26721: Principles and guidelines for Muslims’ relations with non-Muslims

We want to know in detail how Muslims regard non-Muslims, and how they should deal with them according to Islamic sharee’ah?

Published Date: 2009-12-08

Praise be to Allaah.

1-
Islam is the religion of mercy
and justice.

2-
Muslims are commanded to call
non-Muslims to Islam with wisdom and beautiful preaching and by debating in
a manner that is better. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And argue not with the people of the Scripture (Jews and
Christians), unless it be in (a way) that is better (with good words and in
good manner, inviting them to Islamic Monotheism with His Verses), except
with such of them as do wrong”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:46]

3-
Allaah does not accept any
religion other than Islam. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will
never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

4-
The Muslims should give the
kaafirs the opportunity to hear the words of Allaah. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And if anyone of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, idolaters,
pagans, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) seeks your protection then
grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allaah (the Qur’aan)
and then escort him to where he can be secure”

[al-Tawbah 9:6]

5-
The Muslims should
differentiate between different kinds of kaafirs in their dealings with
them. They should make peace with those who make peace, and wage war against
those who wage war, and wage jihad against those who stand in the way of
spreading the message of Islam and causing it to prevail of earth.

6-
With regard to matters of love
and hate in the heart, the Muslims’ attitude towards non-Muslims is based on
the latter’s attitude towards Allaah. If they worship Allaah and do not
associate anything in worship with Him, then they love them. If they
associate others in worship with Him, or disbelieve in Him, or worship
others alongside Him, or are hostile towards His religion and hate the
truth, then it is obligatory to hate them in our hearts.

7-
Hating them in our hearts does
not mean that we should oppress or mistreat them under any circumstances,
because Allaah said to His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), describing what his attitude should be towards the People of the
Book:

“and I am commanded to do justice among you. Allaah is our
Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds”

[al-Shoora 42:15 – interpretation of the meaning]

even though he is a Muslim and they are following Judaism or
Christianity.

8-
The Muslims believe that it is
not permissible, under any circumstances whatsoever, for a Muslim to
mistreat a non-Muslim who is not hostile towards Islam; so the Muslim should
not commit aggression against him, or frighten him, or terrorize him, or
steal his wealth, or embezzle him, or deprive him of his rights, or deny him
his trust, or deny him his wages, or withhold from him the price of his
goods when buying from him or withhold the profits of a partnership if he is
in a business partnership with him.

9-
The Muslims believe that it is
obligatory upon the Muslims to honour treaties or agreements made with a
non-Muslim party. If a Muslim has agreed to their conditions when seeking
permission to enter their country (i.e., a visa) and has promised to adhere
to that, then it is not permissible for him to commit mischief in their
land, to betray anyone, to steal, to kill or to do any destructive action,
and so on.

10-The Muslims believe
that in the case of non-Muslims who wage war against them and drive them out
of their homes, or help others to do so, it is permissible for Muslims to
shed the blood of these non-Muslims and confiscate their wealth.

11-The Muslims believe
that it is permissible for a Muslim to treat kindly those non-Muslims who
are not hostile, whether by offering financial help, feeding the hungry,
giving them loans if needed or interceding with regard to permissible
matters, or speaking kindly to them or returning their greetings, and so on.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with
those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of
your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity”

[al-Mumtahanah 60:8]

12-There is no reason
why Muslims should not cooperate with non-Muslims with regard to
establishing truth and combating falsehood, to support the oppressed and
ward off danger from mankind, such as cooperating to fight pollution or to
protect the environment, or to combat epidemic diseases and so on.

13-The Muslims believe
that there are differences between Muslims and non-Muslims in specific
rulings such as diyah (blood money), inheritance, marriage, guardianship in
marriage, entering Makkah etc., as is explained in the books of Islamic fiqh
(jurisprudence). This is based on the commands of Allaah and His Messenger
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). We cannot regard
as equal one who believes in Allaah alone with no partner or associate and
one who disbelieves in Allaah or one who disbelieves in Allaah and joins
others in worship with Him, or who turns away from the true religion.

14-Muslims are
commanded to call people to Allaah in all the Muslim countries and other
lands. They must convey the true religion of Allaah to the world and build
mosques in all parts of the world, and send daa’iyahs (callers) to
non-Muslim countries and invite their leaders to enter the religion of
Allaah.

15-The Muslims believe
that other people who are following other religions are not following any
true religion, so the Muslims do not allow others to send missionaries to
build churches in Muslim countries. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“Is then he who is a believer like him who is a Faasiq
(disbeliever and disobedient to Allaah)? Not equal are they”

[al-Sajdah 32:18]

Whoever thinks that
Islam is equal to other religions is making a serious mistake. But the
Muslim scholars have opened the door to debate with non-Muslims and allow
the opportunity to discuss with and listen to non-Muslims and explain the
truth to them.

Finally, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad): O people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and
you, that we worship none but Allaah (Alone), and that we associate no
partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides
Allaah.’ Then, if they turn away, say: ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims’”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:64]

“And had the people of the
Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for
them”